The Derbyshire County Council met to discuss local government reorganisation, the 2024-25 budget, and performance monitoring. Councillors agreed to undertake public and key stakeholder engagement to seek views about alternative options for local government reorganisation to inform the preparation of final proposals. They also approved the performance and budget monitoring outturn for 2024-25, and changes to committee memberships.

Local Government Reorganisation

Councillor Alan Graves, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, introduced a report on the update on local government reorganisation, explaining that the government had asked councils to replace the two-tier system with unitary authorities¹. He stated that the previous administration had unwisely approved an unworkable option. He said that the council had been working to restore a sensible solution and had looked at four broad options, analysing their merits. Councillor Alan Graves said that the priority of community identity had led them to a preference for a two unitary model based on a north south split.

Councillor Nigel Gourlay raised concerns about Ashbourne being bundled into the new greater Derby area, and asked whether Councillor Alan Graves had raised this option with the councillor for Dovedale and Ashbourne North before it was included in the paper. He also asked whether Councillor Alan Graves agreed that there were few residents of rural areas or market towns that would want to become part of this greater Derby area, and would he apologise to the residents of Ashbourne and withdraw that option from this consultation.

Councillor Amy Wheelton said that they were turkeys voting for Christmas on this and that it takes the local out of local government and will be detrimental to left behind rural areas.

Councillor Joseph Turrell shared similar sentiments, saying that he did not think it was a very good idea and that it takes away a lot of local decision making. He said that his residents aren't happy with these changes, but that their hands are tied by the Labour government.

Councillor Rachael Hatchett said that Councillor Alan Graves had been putting a very positive spin on something that nobody probably wants. She said that local government is not perfect and probably does need changing, but that this reorganisation is not devolution.

Councillor Wayne Major said that he was going to put the case forward that local government reorganisation isn't really what residents want. He also made the point that it is going to see council tax increase when they level up to the highest one in the area.

Councillor Alex Dale said that he couldn't understand why the council is discounting the whole county option including the city, which is one of the options on the paper but not reform's proposed preferred option. He said that it strikes him as the most efficient model because that removes entirely any duplication.

Councillor Balcliffe said that the people of Ashbourne are totally and utterly disgusted and that there's not a parish in Ashbourne South that has any connection with Derby city.

Councillor Carol Hart said that four of the six parishes in her ward are on the Derby city boundary and they have no wish to be involved in Derby city.

Councillor Martyn Ford said that he was amazed that Councillor Alan Graves, knowing what a mess Derby city is, wants to get this council involved in anything close to Derby city.

Councillor Tom Snowdon said that these proposals are not devolution and there's a con by the Labour government to try and consolidate influence and try and get some savings out of local government.

Councillor Stephen Reed said that the council has the opportunity to either have dictated to them the decision from central government as to what it will look like and not be involved with the process, or they can actually come to the table and try and guide what the final solution is going to be.

Councillor Ed Fordham said that the most important paper this council will consider is not a balanced view and that the benefits of local government reform are not in the paper.

Councillor Sue Burfoot said that it's the Labour government that's got this wrong and that there isn't an option of a no to this.

Councillor Richard Smith said that a north side divide will bring it all together and that at current no one knows is it parish council is it borough council is it a adoption county council problem.

Councillor Alan Graves responded to the points raised, saying that it was the previous Conservative government that started this and that Labour are just carrying it on. He said that it is the councillors' responsibility to make sure that residents engage in this process. He also said that he stood for Derbyshire and that being a Derby city councillor gives him an insight as to how they think.

The recommendations were approved, with a recorded vote requested by Councillor Alex Dale.

Performance and Budget Monitoring Outturn 2024-25

Councillor John Lawson, Cabinet Member for Council Efficiency (DOGE), provided an overview of the Performance and Budget Monitoring Outturn 2024-25 as at Quarter 4 (31 March 2025). He said that the report provides information on performance against the 2024-25 council plan and financial performance against the 2024-25 revenue budget and savings plan. He noted that the council plan set out 33 strategic objectives and performance against the expected progress up to the 31st of March show that 70 percent have been completed or show good progress and outcomes and 30 percent that's 10 strategic objects require review in support of the strategic objects 39 key measures were identified and monitored the latest data available at 31st of March showed that there are 24 measures where targets could be set.

Councillor John Lawson said that as at the 31st of March 2025, the council had a net actual underspend of £0.582 million, which is compared to a projection as that quarter three of an overspend of 25.975. He noted that the movement from the forecast overspend at quarter three to the actual underspend at year end is due to a combination of factors across different departments including savings from holding vacancies and receipts of additional income also there were significant savings in corporate budgets.

Councillor Ed Fordham asked about green and red flags in the report, and whether an overspend of £21 million gets a green flag.

Councillor Wayne Major said that it depends which table you look at and that if you look at the table that shows the full year out turn it has a red flag still but if you look at just the quarter it's got a green flag.

Councillor Gez Kinsella said that it was a bit rich for the conservatives to take credit for balancing the books and that they had failed to fundamentally address some of the major problems of this council's finances.

Councillor Alex Dale said that they were not out the woods yet and that the report makes clear there are very real challenges still within adult social care children's social care and SEND.

Councillor Ruth George asked Councillor John Lawson to look again at community transport because South Derbyshire Community Transport actually went bust because of the way that their contracts were administered by this council.

Councillor John Lawson closed the debate, saying that this was really a review of last year which was obviously under the previous administration. He also said that he didn't underestimate the challenge that they've got in trying to steady the ship.

The motion was carried.

Changes to Committee Memberships

Councillor Dawn Abbott, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, moved the report on the changes to committee memberships. Councillor Alan Graves seconded. The motion was carried.

Public Questions

Several members of the public asked questions.

John Geddes, on behalf of Winster Parish Council, asked why the council chose to issue a road closure for 74 days for seven days of repair works. Councillor Alan Graves said that they care about that and their priority is repairing the road so that the bus service can perform at its full capacity.

Kay Barrow asked whether the council would support a bus franchising pilot for rural areas in Derbyshire. Councillor Carol Wood said that they will be doing their level best as a constituent authority and as members of that committee to press for the best possible services for Derbyshire, which is unusual in its rural situation.

M May asked the council to reconsider decisions made by the previous administration regarding the disposal of the Cavendish Road car park and playing field. Councillor Robert Reaney said that no firm decisions being taken at all until they've clarified certain legal aspects and of course they'll keep you in the loop so no there's no no firm decision self-browsing at this time.

Lisa Hopkinson asked about the abolition of the Climate Change, Biodiversity and Carbon Reduction committee. Councillor Carol Wood said that they take a common sense approach on value for money for money measures which quite sensibly and reasonably includes supporting biodiversity net gain maximizing the use of our natural capital natural assets for health well-being education and other activities.

J Wright asked how the council is proposing to protect the people, their homes and businesses of Derbyshire from floods, wildfires etc. Councillor Carol Wood said that they will not be putting in any strategies explicit measures to reduce greenhouse gases however they obviously will be seeking to continue strategies along the lines she described in the previous answer regarding biodiversity nature strategy which have multiple benefits.

Elected Member Questions

Councillor Ed Fordham asked Councillor Dawn Abbott about establishing a Library of Things in Chesterfield². Councillor Dawn Abbott said that she would be very happy to have conversations with Councillor Ed Fordham about advancing to Chesterfield if they have the benefits of our residents and assistance of community support.

Councillor Ed Fordham asked Councillor Carol Wood about the movement of the hub to the Canal Trust. Councillor Carol Wood said that they are supportive of the trust hopefully moving forward to continue the asset of the Tapton Lock shop centre.

Councillor Ed Fordham asked Councillor Charlotte Hill about the removal of two foot bridges. Councillor Charlotte Hill said that Derbyshire's flood management team have the data on this and that they have been working on this already.

Councillor Ed Fordham asked Councillor Charlotte Hill when Brooklyn Drive, Brookbank Avenue, Fair View and Beechdale Close in his division will be resurfaced in full. Councillor Charlotte Hill said that the program that they're currently dealing with is that program of the previous administrations working with the officers as well as so it's not anything that we've had any influence over currently.

Councillor Nigel Gourlay asked Councillor Charlotte Hill when the council will re-open Bamford Clough, a byway within his division. Councillor Charlotte Hill said that she is more than one open to coming and having a site visit with you and also bringing along the relative officers as well.

Councillor Tom Snowdon asked Councillor Sam Redfern will the council commit to conducting a detailed review of care home costs and charges. Councillor Sam Redfern said that it is something they are looking into at the moment the strategy going forward with children and how they place them.

Councillor Susan Hobson asked Councillor Alan Graves what option Derbyshire County Council favour for local government reorganisation, and how will they ensure that the views of Derbyshire residents are heard. Councillor Alan Graves said that he is relying on councillors to engage with the parishes.

Councillor Gez Kinsella asked Councillor Alan Graves what is the reason DCC did not mark International Day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in May. Councillor Alan Graves said that they already engaged this year and we will engage exactly the same next year.

Councillor Gez Kinsella asked Councillor Joss Barnes why DCC are still proposing to transfer Ada Belfield care home to the private sector. Councillor Joss Barnes said that the residents will not have increased fees as part of the contracts and the staff as well will be looking at moving over as previously consulted with yourself.

Councillor Anne Clarke asked Councillor Stephen Reed if he intends to implement a policy in Derbyshire and require more staff to come into the office. Councillor Stephen Reed said that they have a duty and accountability to the public to provide those services and they believe that it's best served setting the minimum requirement as three days a week and adjusting where accordingly rather than setting that at one day a week and adjusting up as as a court accordingly.

Councillor Paul Maginnis asked Councillor Alan Graves to update them on how it is tackling wokeism within the Council. Councillor Alan Graves said that that doesn't relate to the original question.

Councillor Carol Hart asked Councillor Alan Graves will the Leader reaffirm the Council's commitment to the recent Memorandum of Understanding with Khmelnytskyi region in Ukraine. Councillor Alan Graves said that if he do get any invites he will certainly consider inviting you along.

Councillor Alex Dale asked Councillor Jack Bradley what mitigations will the Council put in place to ensure adult education courses remain accessible to as many residents as possible. Councillor Jack Bradley said that they are doing a lot of work around the transformation of the adult education program so a lot of that will be looking at using assets we have available to us already so that it may be libraries or town halls that we could use to provide training from those places which increases the amount of places we can offer and also reduce the cost of actually delivering those.

Councillor Ruth George asked Councillor Jack Bradley what deficiency in school places has been assessed in each of the education areas in Derbyshire. Councillor Jack Bradley said that he can provide those after this.

Councillor Ruth George asked Councillor Stephen Reed how many agency staff are employed in Adult social care, Childrens Services, and Place and of these, how many have been originally sourced from abroad on the care visa scheme. Councillor Stephen Reed said that he would put that to the relevant cabinet member as the right person to actually look at that.